text: Space | 22. June 2016 | posted by Julia Heil Bye Bye BIROS Credit: ISRO On 22 June 2016, the microsatellite BIROS took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India on board a PSLV launcher (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle). It was finally time: after another postponement of the deadline, the fire detection satellite BIROS (Bi-spectral Infrared Optical System) took off on 22 June 2016. All of the collectively crossed fingers helped: here is a look back at the days that preceded the launch. Although a part of the DLR team had already set off on their homeward journey to Germany, systems engineer Christian Schultz, project coordinator Matthias Hetscher, design engineer Matthias Lieder and software engineer Stefan Trippler remained on site in India to accompany the microsatellite in its final preparations. Schultz set off for Germany shortly before the launch to take his place at the control centre in Oberpfaffenhofen.##markend## Crushed coconuts for a successful start The multi-satellite platform needed to be bolted together before BIROS could be fitted to the launcher together with other satellites. To do this, the lower level that holds the four micro-satellites was connected to the upper half accommodating the main satellite (weighing a hefty 770 kilograms). The Easter egg is then sealed tight.p> Credit: DLR (CC-BY 3.0) BIROS in the hangar of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre The rocket was rolled out to the launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) on Saturday, while the returnees prepared for launch at the DLR German Space Operations Center (GSOC) in Oberpfaffenhofen. Anyone looking to witness the lift-off needed to be up at the crack of dawn. All the same, the three scientists from the DLR Institute of Optical Sensor Systems were not alone as they attended the ceremony on the island of Sriharikota, and the grounds were teeming with curious onlookers. Coconuts were crushed to curry favour with the gods and get their blessing for a successful launch. These ceremonies also involved convincing the Hindu god Ganesh – responsible for the success of all journeys and new things – to remove any obstructions that could get in the way of a successful launch procedure. By the end of the ceremony, at least 30 cleft coconuts – enough for a blessing and a favourable launch – lay strewn across the launch pad. Credit: DLR (CC-BY 3.0) BIROS is stowed away in a sturdy crate for transport Charging the batteries until the last minute Up until Sunday evening, the scientists had to pay several visits to the microsatellite BIROS to charge its batteries. The solar panels will not unfold until the third orbit, and every ampere-hour will count so that BIROS can bridge the time between launch and separation. Later on, the batteries will provide the fire detection satellite with enough energy to overcome even extended periods without sunlight. The official countdown came on Monday morning at T-48 hours. This meant raising the security level and prohibiting anyone from leaving the building. The final opportunity for a well-deserved rest had therefore already come and gone. Incense sticks and temple sacrifices Credit: DLR (CC-BY 3.0) The temple to the goddess Sri Kamakshidevi The three remaining members of the DLR team set off on Tuesday to find a suitable temple and to eliminate even the most remote risks of failure. They discovered what they were looking for in the shrine to Sri Kamakshidevi in the SHAR Temple Complex. Two priests were roped in to perform a ceremony with prayers, incense sticks and a sacrificial offering: the ritual promises guaranteed success, just like the specifically crafted BIROS candle that the scientists had brought along from Berlin and that now stands in the temple complex shrine. And soon enough, Wednesday 22 June 2016 arrives – scheduled launch at 03:35 UTC. The countdown begins, and as the clock hits 0, the fire detection satellite – itself a product of collaboration between 10 different DLR institutes over three years – is on its way. Dann ist es Mittwoch, der 22. Juni 2016 - Startzeit 3:56 UTC. Der Countdown beginnt und bei 0 macht sich der Feuerdetektionssatellit, an dem zehn unterschiedliche DLR-Institute gemeinsam für drei Jahre gearbeitet haben, auf den Weg. Credit: DLR (CC-BY 3.0) The BIROS candle in the shrine to Sri Kamakshidevi asks the gods for a successful launch


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By now, those of you who are sick of the monkey picture will realize I'm on something of a summer hiatus. Officially I'm back after Labor Day.
But one last post and recommendation for the summer.
"Senna" is a documentary about about the Brazilian motor-racing champion, Ayrton Senna that is being released in the States tomorrow. It explores his arrival in Formula One in the mid 1980s, and follows his struggles both on track against his rival, French World Champion Alain Prost, and off it, against the internal politics of the sport. Directed by Asif Kapadia, it was a huge success in England and won the World Cinema Audience Award for documentaries at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
The film is a gripping story on many levels. There is the charisma of its subject, matters of spirituality, and glimpses into Brazilian culture. Beacause I knew so little about Senna and motor racing, the story kept me on the edge of my seat while the insight in to Formula One racing was a fascinating glimpse into another world.
Just see it.
Ciao for now.

subset: commoncrawl


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I am trying to understand the behaviour of ST_Intersects() in PostGIS.
My goal is to get the mean value of a raster area corresponding to each polygon in a vector layer.
To test my SQL I run initially the script with a vector layer containing only one geometry:
CREATE TABLE mean AS
SELECT id, (ST_SummaryStats(ST_Clip(rast,1,geom))).mean
FROM vector, raster
WHERE ST_Intersects(geom,rast)
What returns is a two rows table:
How it is possible that the same geometry intersects the same raster twice with two different values?
I don't know if it is a coincidence, but the mean value I got doing the same operation with the same two layers with the QGIS Zonal Statistics is -138.788659793814 (the mean between -146.258943781942 and -115.587301587302 is -130... pretty close)


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Washington, D.C.— Researchers at the Carnegie Institution have developed a new technique for improving the properties of diamonds—not only adding sparkle to gemstones, but also simplifying the process of making high-quality diamond for scalpel blades, electronic components, even quantum computers. The results are published in the October 27-31 online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A diamond may be forever, but the very qualities that make it a superior material for many purposes—its hardness, optical clarity, and resistance to chemicals, radiation, and electrical fields― can also make it a difficult substance with which to work. Defects can be purged by a heating process called annealing, but this can turn diamond to graphite, the soft, grey form of carbon used in pencil leads. To prevent graphitization, diamond treatments have previously required high pressures (up to 60,000 times atmospheric pressure) during annealing, but high pressure/high temperature annealing is expensive and there are limits on the size and quantities of diamonds that can be treated.
Yu-fei Meng, Chih-shiue Yan, Joseph Lai, Szczesny Krasnicki, Haiyun Shu, Thomas Yu, Qi Liang, Ho-kwang Mao, and Russell Hemley of the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory used a method called chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to grow synthetic diamonds for their experiments. Unlike other methods, which mimic the high pressures deep within the earth where natural diamonds are formed, the CVD method produces single-crystal diamonds at low pressure. The resulting diamonds, which can be grown very rapidly, have precisely controlled compositions and comparatively few defects.
The Carnegie team then annealed the diamonds at temperatures up to 2000° C using a microwave plasma at pressures below atmospheric pressure. The crystals, which are originally yellow-brown if produced at very high growth rates, turned colorless or light pink. Despite the absence of stabilizing pressure there was minimal graphitization. Using analytical methods such as photoluminescence and absorption spectroscopy, the researchers were also able to identify the specific crystal defects that caused the color changes. In particular, the rosy pink color is produced by structures called nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, where a nitrogen atom takes the place of a carbon atom at a position in the crystal lattice next to a vacant site..
"This low-pressure/high-temperature annealing enhances the optical properties of this rapid-grown CVD single crystal diamond." says Meng. "We see a significant decrease in the amount of light absorbed across the spectrum from ultraviolet to visible and infrared. We were also able to determine that the decrease arises from the changes in defect structure associated with hydrogen atoms incorporated in the crystal lattice during CVD growth."
"It is striking to see brown CVD diamonds transformed by this cost-efficient method into clear, pink-tinted crystals," says Yan. And because the researchers pinpointed the cause of the color changes in their diamonds, "Our work may also help the gem industry to distinguish natural from synthetic diamond."
"The most exciting aspect of this new annealing process is the unlimited size of the crystals that can be treated. The breakthrough will allow us to push to kilocarat diamonds of high optical quality" says coauthor Ho-kwang Mao. Because the method does not require a high pressure press, it promises faster processing of diamonds and more types of diamonds to be de-colored than current high-pressure annealing methods. There is also no restriction on the size of crystals or the number of crystals, because the method is not limited by the chamber size of a high pressure press. The microwave unit is also significantly less expensive than a large high-pressure apparatus.
"The optimized process will produce better diamond for new-generation high pressure devices and window materials with improved optical properties in the ultraviolet to infrared range." concludes laboratory director Russell Hemley. "It has the advantage of being applicable in CVD reactors as a subsequent treatment after growth."
The high-quality, single crystal diamond made possible by the new process has a wide variety of applications in science and technology, such as the use of diamond crystals as anvils in high-pressure research and in optical applications that take advantage of diamond's exceptional transparency. Among the more exotic future applications of the pink diamonds made in this way is quantum computing, which could use the diamonds' NV centers for storing quantum information.


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This article is intended for people who are in control of all of their faculties. If you feel like you are losing control, go and see someone, whether it be a friend, a pastor, a priest, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, etc., etc.
One way to tell if you are a stupid Christian is if you believe that the Bible contains everything you need to know about how your mind works. Now, be careful. Do not turn to psychologists, psychiatrists, and other so-called "mind healers" for knowledge of how your mind works. I am a psychologist and psychiatrist and I will tell you that these mind healers are a thousand times more stupid than the stupidest Christian.
However, among their writings, here and there, you will find some important truths. Therefore, you may consult their writings. Do not, however, go to the psychologist and psychiatrist authors themselves. This is because they are in it for the money and, more important, because they are not teachers but rather are "obfuscators." Obfuscators deliberately make it impossible to learn. The reason they do this is that, if you knew what they know, you wouldn't need them anymore and they would stop making money.
Now, I have spent over 50 years reading, reviewing, and studying their writings and have extracted all of the vital information that you need. In addition, my research team has, collectively, spent over 10,000 years adding to my research and my technology team has used our AI supercomputer Collosus and our Nemesis program (a next-generation statistical program) to extract over ten billion pages of critical published content from the massive libraries of behavioral science ("mental science") writings.


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Dr. Ralph Stanley kicks off bluegrass weekend in Franklin
Dr. Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
After 55 years in the business, Stanley's still one of the best banjo pickers and tenor singers in bluegrass. As a recording artist, he has performed on more than 170 albums, tapes, and CDs. He's also written many songs himself and with his brother, the late Carter Stanley.
In addition to the many honors Ralph has received as a bluegrass musician — including membership on the Grand Ole Opry — he is also active in his local community.
Fans can make it a bluegrass weekend and stay for the Del McCoury Band at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Center.
$15 for Stanley. $15 to $20 for Del McCoury Band.
Buy tickets at 1028 Georgia Road in Franklin, Dalton's Bookstore in Franklin and Waynesville, GreatMountainMusic.com or 866.273.4615.


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French researchers provided fresh evidence Friday to support claims that a drug touted as a miracle cure for alcoholism, and prescribed for this purpose in France, actually works.
The drug, baclofen, had "a positive effect" at high doses in reducing alcohol consumption over a year of treatment, according to study results released at a conference in Paris.
Developers reported on a drug trial named Bacloville, conducted among 320 heavy drinkers aged 18 to 65 between May 2012 and June 2013.
The trial compared the safety and efficacy of the drug given to some participants at high doses, to a "dummy" placebo pill given to others.
Neither the trial participants nor their monitors knew who was getting which pill. The patients were not asked to refrain from alcohol.
Fifty-seven percent of those who got the real drug stopped drinking or drank less, compared to 37 percent of those who got the dummy drug.
A second study, dubbed Alpadir, also reported Friday that people who received the medicine made bigger cuts in drinking compared to those given a placebo.
French health authorities gave provisional approval for use of baclofen, originally designed and widely used to treat muscle spasms, in 2014 for the treatment of alcoholism.
Many people in other countries are thought to use the drug without a prescription to fight alcoholism.
Interest was sparked in 2008 by a book, "Le Dernier Verre" (The Last Drink), by French-American cardiologist Olivier Ameisen, who claimed to have self-treated his alcoholism with high doses of baclofen.
A subsequent French trial found high doses of the drug caused a significant percentage of heavy drinkers to give up or moderate their intake.
Several trials since then have come up with contradictory findings.
Last year, Dutch researchers in a different study found the drug may work no better than counselling.
Without proof of its efficacy, prescribing high doses of the drug known as baclofen may be irresponsible, they warned at the time.
Ethypharm, the laboratory developing the drug, said Friday it would submit an application by month-end for the commercialisation of baclofen for the treatment of alcoholism in France.
According to the UN's World Health Organization (WHO), 3.3 million deaths around the globe every year are the result of harmful alcohol use—almost six percent of all deaths.
Explore further:
'Anti-alcoholism' drug cleared for use in France


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Clean Pro Arvada
Best Gutter Cleaning Service in Arvada CO !
Clean Pro Arvada is the premier provider of gutter cleaning services in the Arvada CO region. Our unique qualities are years of experience, prompt service, attention to detail and concern for safety. We offer gutter cleaning services that are affordable near you.
Arvada () is a home rule municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties, Colorado, United States. The city population was 124,402 at the 2020 United States Census, with 121,510 residing in Jefferson County and 2,892 residing in Adams County. Arvada is the seventh most populous city in Colorado. The city is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor. The Olde Town Arvada historic district is 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.
Allendale Area, Alta Vista Area, Apple Meadows, Appleridge Estates, Arbor Green Townhomes, Arvada Plaza Area, Barths, Berkeley, Blue Mountain Estates, Cameo Estates, Candelas, Candlelight, Centura Arvada Neighborhood Health Center, Chaffee Park, Club Crest


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An official hello to summer. Somehow i don't really understand why some quotes said that everyone wait the whole year for summer. i personally um not really like summer since it's sweaty and humid. Specifically here since i got no air con and need to suffer like a stew. Enough for the babble. Well since i finished my college (yesh!), i spend 2 nights to South France, Nice, with my close friend.
Pictures below are the view from the room balcony. pretty refreshing!
And suprisingly people in Nice are really Nice! They are mostly friendly and smiley. Seafood are mostly good. And everyone speak good english.
There were so many people play roller skate, biking, jogging, and of course sun-bathing along the beach. The sea water was refreshingly cold. It's a rock-sand here. And of course it hurts if you walk in barefoot.
and a few pictures of their old town that slightly looks like Venice.
And how about your summer vacation? Or you planned to do so? Hope you enjoy your summer!


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Skill education
In the field of skill education Uitgeverij Coutinho develops publication on general skills, writing skills, professional skills and research skills. We adapt our products to new trends in education, and we publish new publications on a regular base. Check the following overview and find all publications on your subject.


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London Fashion Week's future hangs in the balance amid accusations it's being squeezed out by New York and Milan.
BY Belinda White | 20 September 2011
London Fashion Week has been thrown into crisis after heavyweight Italian fashion brand Gucci, who will show their spring/summer 2012 collection in Milan on Wednesday, ordered countless models to fly to Milan early to begin fittings for their show.
The move has left the bi-annual fashion event in chaos with models being pulled from shows at the eleventh hour, leaving London-based model agencies outraged and threatening to boycott London Fashion Week next season if the British Fashion Council don't re-organise the London schedule and intervene to prevent what they perceive as bullying tactics by both New York and Milan Fashion Weeks.
Problems began when Marc Jacobs moved his New York show back to make up time his design team lost when Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast of America. Jacobs' show ran so late on Thursday night that the models couldn't catch the last flight back to London so had to be pulled from Friday's London shows.
"We're not just talking about one or two big girls," Carole White, the founder of London-based model agency Premier Model Management told us, "Jacobs had numerous models holding on options right up until the day of his show meaning they all stayed in New York just in case they got cast."
Carole White: the outspoken model agent
With London Fashion Week kicking off on Friday, this meant that several models who could have been free to appear in shows here missed the whole of the first day.
Then on Saturday, Gucci dropped a bombshell with creative director Frida Giannini requesting a pre-casting for her show.
"Gucci demanded that girls fly to Milan on Saturday to meet Frida to see if she would consider them for her show, which meant Saturday got trashed" White explained. "Then the girls were expected to fly straight back to London, and if Gucci were interested, fly back to Milan again on Sunday for another round of casting, then for fittings on Monday."
With Gucci being such a huge show and a potential career maker for up-and-coming models, the New York and Milan agencies who wield all the power, pulled as many girls as possible out of London for the chance to meet with Frida.
"Only a tiny fraction of them realistically have a shot at being in that show - we all know it will be full of mega girls," said White. "I find it insulting that a designer like Frida thinks London is so insignificant that she would do that. Where's the camaraderie?"
All the latest news from London Fashion Week
A number of high profile shows at London Fashion Week have been affected with Monday's hit list including Todd Lynn, Erdem, Michael Van Der Ham, Temperley, Aquascutum and Louise Gray.
"It's been a total nightmare for us"; a source from Todd Lynn told us. "We lost 10 out of 19 girls.
"We were getting calls from agents at 1.30am on the morning of the show pulling girls we had just fitted, while other girls just didn't turn up to fittings at all after they'd been confirmed. When we called their agencies to find out where they were, we were told sorry, they've gone to Milan."
"It's not the London agent's fault. With all the big money advertising work coming from New York, Milan and Paris, London has no power. We are seen as the poor relations," said Nick Burns from Star & Co casting agency who were responsible for casting Todd Lynn and PPQ.
"We had to totally re-cast PPQ on Friday because of Marc Jacobs, and now the Gucci situation has ruined all the work we've done for Todd Lynn.
"The upshot of all this will be that models will stop coming to London all together because it's just not worth it, and any decent designers will be forced to stop showing here because they can't get good enough girls."
Many of the affected parties are pointing the finger of blame at the British Fashion Council, accusing them of mismanaging the packed London show schedule, and not standing up to the organisers behind New York and Milan fashion weeks.
One stylist we spoke to who didn't want to be named suggested that rather than save all the major London show until the back end of the London schedule (a practice designed to attract as many of the international press into town as possible while they are in transit to Milan), the BFC should negotiate a free day between New York and London for the models to travel back and attend fittings, and then have all the big shows to provide a buffer before Milan starts.
"The London schedule is too packed, there are too many designers crammed into such a small time frame it's unworkable", he told us.
The geography doesn't help either. "In every city shows are spread all over town, but in New York, Paris and Milan, there are only two-three shows per day vying for the same models. On a day like Monday in London, you have 11 designers all fighting to get the same girls and with shows packed back-to-back all over town, everyone loses," said Burns.
"The girls get off a plane from New York, jet-lagged and are expected to stay up all night doing castings and fittings" explained White. "It's a logistical nightmare and extremely unprofessional".
"Historically, there has always been challenges regarding models in London" responded Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council. "Many of the smaller businesses showing here do not have the resources to compete on price with the global fashion brands in, for example Milan and Paris fashion weeks.
"Over the past year, we have invested time in developing direct relationships with model agencies to better understand their challenges and encourage them to send more internationally-recognised catwalk models to London. This season, the models at designers such as Jonathan Saunders, Erdem, Christopher Kane and Tom Ford have been of a global standard."
Also adding to everyone's woes was Monday night's Giles Deacon show styled by LOVE magazine editor Katie Grand. Such is her power in the fashion industry (her show list also includes Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and Topshop Unique), that Grand demanded a five-hour call time for Giles' show, effectively block-booking any of the models left in town after Burberry's show.
A fashion insider who wouldn't go on the record told us: "A five-hour call time is unnecessary, absurd, selfish and wrong. It's one designer spoiling it for everyone else.
"In Paris it's illegal. There's a two-hour call time limit to stop precisely this thing happening. They have much bigger shows than us and they manage. The whole thing is so much more efficient".
"It's really sad as this year we have such good shows: Tom Ford, Burberry, Giles, Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders etc" said model agent Rhiannon Jones from Viva London which counts top catwalk models Natalia Vodianova, Raquel Zimmermann and Saskia De Brauw in its ranks.
"London has become a really fantastic fashion week, and everyone just wants the best for it before it's too late."
A number of London model agencies and casting agents have united in an effort to get the situation addressed by the British Fashion Council amid fears they will be forced to boycott the London shows next season if the situation doesn't improve.
"The agents are losing clients and being made to look incompetent," said Todd Lynn stylist, Clare Richardson. "It just shows how beneath the surface, London is still not taken seriously because of the lack of money here. Because designers cannot afford to advertise, they basically have no control. It's a sad state of affairs."


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The provincial government, which allows municipalities to establish this tax rate, allow only for a count of full time employees. This means if a business has 15 full-time employees and 60 seasonal employees, the seasonal employees would not be part of the count. This business would be defined as "less than 50 full-time employees" and would qualify to be included in the new sub-class.
Not necessarily. For tax purposes the Municipal Government Act (s. 297(4)(b)) says that a property that receives a non-residential tax rate is"…other property on which industry, commerce or another use takes place, or is permitted to take place under a land use bylaw passed by council…". The zoning is a major influence on property that is zoned for commercial or industrial purposes but is not currently being used. If you have more questions on this please feel free to contact our assessment team at 780-826-3171.
Please look at your Assessment and Tax Notice from 2017. If your property is paying a municipal farm tax, then your property is paying a lower tax rate than if it was assessed and taxed as a non-residential property. Therefore, you will not need to fill out the declaration form.
Please look at your Assessment and Tax Notice from 2017. If you see that there is a "Municipal - Non-Res" property tax levy (found in the left middle of your Assessment and Tax Notice), then you may qualify for the Small Business tax rate. Some businesses are very small, and they may not meet the qualifications to have a non-residential tax rate. If the property has been taxed as a non-residential, then you may qualify for the small business tax rate.
If you had a "Municipal - Non Residential" tax rate on your 2017 Assessment and Tax Notice, and you met the requirements of the Small Business tax rate, you would be taxed at a lower rate that the Municipal - Non-Residential properties in the Municipality. What would be the effect on the tax bill? That is a little more complex to answer. Your Property Tax Bill is broken up into different taxes. There is a Municipal Tax section, a School Tax section, and an Other Tax section on your notice. Council only has control over the Municipal section. In November 2017, Council established an interim budget and their decision was to keep the same tax mill rates in 2018 as they were in 2017. If your assessment values remain the same as last year, and the municipal tax rates stay the same, you would see a lower municipal tax levy for the part of the property that qualifies under the Small Business sub-class. We cannot predict the overall effect on your tax bill, as the School Tax and Other Tax sections of your bill are established by those requisitioning bodies.


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Broncos claim another volleyball title
Tell me if this doesn't sound familiar; San Juan Broncos win another state 2A volleyball title!
It does and it should as head coach Cassy Moon led her team once again back to their accustomed position at the top of the 2A volleyball ranks.
Led by stalwarts senior Kelsi Meyer, junior Simone Shumway and sophomore Brooke Lyman, the Lady Broncos rushed through the 2A field in impressive fashion, dropping only two sets.
Starting against the Lady Cowboys from Kanab, the Lady Broncos shook off first match jitters and routed the Cowboys 3-1. Then they whitewashed both the Summits, North and South, 3-0, before besting the Enterprise Wolves in the final, 3-1.
The Broncos came in a little under the radar, ranked third behind Waterford and Enterprise, but didn't let that deter them from their goal. It was the 11th title in 15 years for the dominant Bronco program, but the first since 2007. The state championship is Coach Moon's seventh.
Said Moon, "Our girls have been so fun this year. They were very coach-able and responded well to some simple changes we made. We added an extra hour to practice this season, going three instead of two. The girls were there every day and I never heard one of them complain about being in the gym and working so hard.
"I don't think it's me doing anything as these girls wanted to win and were hungry. I was impressed from their dedication during June as most of them spent 1 1/2 hours five days per week going over and improving basic skills.
"Thinking back, my coaches and I couldn't remember any bad practices this season. That is an amazing feat for young ladies with so many other stresses in their lives.
"They maintained their focus the entire season. The girls found ways to compete and joke with each other, which allowed them to feel it was okay to 'go for the throat' in practice without hurting pride. (Light trash talk can be funny and motivating.)
"That attitude carried over into matches and we watched them mentally mature and the look in their eyes and the swagger in their walk was evidence of their purpose this year. In fact, when we were down so far in set three of the championship match, and in the final timeout we had, I looked at their faces and knew even if we didn't win that set, we would win the match.
"There was no quit in any of them. Of course, some people have said we were lucky to have played so well on Enterprise's miscues during that set, but I believe you make your own luck. These girls did that when they started working back in June.
"That moment of luck came at just the right time and then their determination helped them grit their teeth and finally beat Enterprise in set 4.
"I feel I need to thank a bunch of people. I will start with the girls themselves. They made this season what it was. They listened and tried and perfected every day.
"When we got to the matches against North Summit and South Summit, we didn't really need to coach them. They stayed with the game plan. They are an amazing bunch of girls. I need to thank the parents of these girls for taking care of all of the extras in order to make the season run smoothly and make each girl feel special.
"I need to thank my coaches and their families for sacrificing so much time to help these girls. Wendy Meyer worked longer hours at work in order to be at practice and every game. She is so good to have on any staff and I especially appreciated observations and support. She will be taking some time off from volleyball until her son, a sophomore, graduates from high school.
"Kelli Christensen also deserves a big thanks. She came home to prepare to go on a mission and allowed us to talk her into coaching until she leaves this month. The girls love her, as well as her great attitude and calm ways.
"I need to thank my husband and children for their support and love during the craziest three months of the year. They still love me after the stress I have put them through.
"I also think that every young woman who has played volleyball at San Juan High deserves a thanks. They paved the way for these ladies to enjoy this moment by improving the game and showing those little girls watching that it is possible to be something more than ever thought possible.
"I have coached 12 years of those girls and I have loved every small or great success they have had. I hope that younger girls were watching this bunch of girls and will also realize how important it is to involve themselves with great individuals.
"Where do we go from here? I hope to take a really long nap on Saturday, so Disneyland is out of the question. The girls are already talking about next year. I found myself awake at 6 a.m. Sunday, thinking about next year and where we go from here. I guess the answer is we will be in the gym again next spring and summer. There will be a lot to do to be ready for next season."
Lady Buckaroos
Coach Tony Esplin's Buckaroo charges made short work of three of their four opponents, but couldn't quite get past that fourth one, the Lady Rebels from Rich to nonetheless capture fifth place in the 1A state volleyball tournament.
After smoking Bryce Valley, 25-7, 25-15, 25-11 in the opening round, the Lady Bucks looked poised to beat the Rebels in the quarterfinals, but fell in four remarkable sets, 25-23, 16-25, 25-21, 25-22 to fall out of title contention.
But undaunted, the Lady Buckaroos, with Swayzi Slade leading the way, pounded Altamont, 25-11, 25-12, 25-18 and Monument Valley 25-14, 25-15, 25-12 to finish the season positively.
The Broncos won their 28th home playoff game in history Friday, against two losses, by besting the Kanab Cowboys 47-14.
The Broncos finally put the hard ridin' Cowboys away after the Cowboys closed to within 21-14 with 6:33 in the third quarter with a 12-yard touchdown pass, becoming the first team all year to score twice on the Broncos.
But two plays after the ensuing kickoff, senior QB Cameron Shumway tossed a long bomb to senior running back Stetler Shumway, who made a great catch, shook off the Cowboy defender and raced 80 yards to the touchdown. That seemed to finally buck off the Cowboys.
For good measure, the Broncos scored on their next three possessions as well, a two-yard Stetler dive, a 21-yard Ryan Lyman dash, and a duplicated 51-yard dash by Kevin Arthur. Arthur, one play earlier, had scored on the exact same play, only to see it called back on a holding call. So, he did it again, in nearly identical fashion, to put the Broncos up convincingly 47-14.
Cameron Shumway guided a balanced Bronco offensive attack to 234 yards rushing and 271 yards passing. Shumway was 11-of-18 passing with two touchdown passes. He also ran for a TD on a one-yard keeper.
Ryan Lyman did plenty of offensive work too, with 143 yards rushing and two TDs, along with two catches for 53 yards and another touchdown. Stetler Shumway added 47 yards rushing and Colby Redd carried for 53 more in a dominating performance by the offense.
The Broncos grabbed their tenth win of the season and 18th in a row. Next up for the Broncos, the South Sevier Rams, who upset Enterprise in a baseball score 6-2 in their quarterfinal match.
The Rams are a team who may have found themselves the last two weeks. Entering the playoffs at a gloomy 1-8 on the season, the Rams beat North Summit in two overtimes before disappointing the Wolves of Enterprise. Game time is Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Grove High School.
On your way home, catch Coach Lee Chadwick and the Monticello Buckaroos in a rematch against Rich High School at Snow College in Ephraim at 2 p.m.
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Custom Projects and Partnerships
Volunteer projects are fun, easy and make a difference
A volunteer project is a great way for members of your organization to have fun together outside while giving back to the community. It's also a great way for high school students to get their community service graduation hours.
Partner with us!
- It's rewarding - we provide satisfying team-building projects that positively impact the community and the environment.
- It's fun - projects can be educational and offer opportunities for participant bonding and morale enhancement. Get outside and enjoy the scenic views of one of our Town properties in a whole new way.
- It's easy - all tools, materials, supervision and guidance are provided. Or, if you want to get out on your own, contact Marcy Jones via email for details.
Examples of volunteer partnerships
- Schools - guided hike trash clean-ups, wildlife presentations, the Colorado Bluebird Project, trail work and more
- Cub Scout / Girl Scout - merit badge community service and educational presentations (examples include: Earth Day willow harvest and planting event, trash clean-ups, flower planting and more)
- Church youth groups - these can be trail work outings, open space reclamation, or trash clean-ups, depending on the Town's needs at the time
- Businesses - these can be trail work outings, open space reclamation or trash clean-ups, depending on the Town's needs at the time
How to get started
- Fill out a group application.
- Email or call the POST volunteer coordinator at 303-814-7456.
- Find a date and time that works for everyone's schedule and confirm that date with the POST volunteer coordinator.
- Custom group projects usually consist of eight to 40 people.
- Projects are usually scheduled within a 3 to 4 hour time frame, either before or after lunch.
- Waivers (PDF) will need to be completed by all participants and a roster filled out by the group leader on the day of the project outing.
Volunteer opportunities
- Trail maintenance - Join one of our scheduled trail maintenance groups. In addition to these groups, we conduct trail maintenance activities on Town properties as needed. Register online. For questions, contact Marcy Jones via email, the POST Partners Volunteer Program Coordinator for more information.
- Trash Pick Up - Join us for weekly trash pick-up outings. Register online. For questions, contact Marcy Jones via email, the POST Partners Volunteer Program Coordinator for more information.
- Noxious weed collection - Knapweed can be eradicated from many of our trails when the plants are cut and bagged. Plus, this gives trail users a better experience when these weeds are removed from the trail edge where they can cut and scratch people's legs.
- Park or Streetscape Landscaping - Mulch replacement or hardscape improvements as needed.
Saying "thank you" to our volunteers
- POST Partner T-shirts (new), water bottles or hats
- Listing on our website and in our monthly and annual reports
- Articles in our annual newsletter and/or program highlight report
- Plaque, award or certificate for your company, organization or participants
Thanks to these organizations who participated in a one-time group project
- American Heritage Girls Group - helped preserve our trees by painting select trees at Sellars Gulch to prevent the beavers from chewing them and Trash Pick Up along Native Legend Trail. (60 hours)
- Boy Scout Troop 261 - disassembled an old fort and trash clean up at Memmen Ridge, trash clean up at Paintbrush Park. (146 hours)
- Calvary Chapel - 50 members of Nueva Vida Calvary Church in Castle Rock came together at Festival Park for Watercress Removal Project and trash pick up along the East Plum Creek Trail. (183 hours)
- CR Moms Social Group - Trash clean up along East Plum Creek Trail and Memmen Ridge Open Space. (125 Hours)
- Cub Scout Pack 260 - Trash clean-up, noxious weed removal and corridor clearing on the trail behind Castle Rock Elementary School. (16 hours)
- Cub Scout Pack 764 - Bison Park trash pick up. (18 Hours)
- Cub Scout Pack 780 - Butterfield Park trash pick up. (36 Hours)
- CVHS/DCHS Paws for a Cause - Arbor Day tree planting at Rhyolite Park. (147 Hours)
- DCHS Football Team - 18 Freshman Football Team members showed up to help with Perry Street Maintenance prior to the parade and 28 members of the three Football squads took turns picking up trash along Hangman's Gulch. (110 Hours)
- Elizabeth High School - On their Big Help Day 73 volunteer came to Castle Rock and removed and replaced mulch along Perry Street. (292 Hours)
- Girl Scout Troop - Trail maintenance and trash clean up at Philip S. Miller Park. (11 Hours)
- LDS Youth Group - 39 members of the Parker Youth Group removed and replaced mulch along Perry Street. (78 Hours)
- Mesa Middle School Atlas Bear Team - Five classrooms of 30 students each helped conduct trail improvements to the Mesa Middle School connection trail, monitor bluebird nest-boxes, collect trash around the school and nearby open space, and clear vegetation along the Mitchell Creek Canyon Trail (300 Hours)
- Renaissance Middle School - Philip S. Miller Park and trail maintenance. (38 Hours)
- Ridgeline Community Church - Trash clean-up, noxious weed removal and corridor clearing on the trail behind Castle Rock Elementary School and Philip S. Miller Challenge Hill step improvements. (86 Hours)
- World Compass Academy - 10 students and one teacher volunteered to remove silt fencing at Philip S. Miller Park. (40 Hours)
Marcy Jones
POST Partners Volunteer Program CoordinatorPhone: 303-814-7456


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(from Ch. 140, par. 351)
Sec. 1.
This Act shall be known as and may be cited as the "Illinois Trade Secrets Act".
(Source: P.A. 85-366.)
(from Ch. 140, par. 352)
Sec. 2.
As used in this Act, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) "Improper means" includes theft, bribery, misrepresentation, breach or inducement of a breach of a confidential relationship or other duty to maintain secrecy or limit use, or espionage through electronic or other means. Reverse engineering or independent development shall not be considered improper means.
(b) "Misappropriation" means:
(1) acquisition of a trade secret of a person by another person who knows or has reason to know that the trade secret was acquired by improper means; or
(2) disclosure or use of a trade secret of a person without express or implied consent by another person who:
(A) used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret; or
(B) at the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that knowledge of the trade secret was:
(I) derived from or through a person who utilized improper means to acquire it;
(II) acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or
(III) derived from or through a person who owed a duty to the person seeking relief to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or
(C) before a material change of position, knew or had reason to know that it was a trade secret and that knowledge of it had been acquired by accident or mistake.
(c) "Person" means a natural person, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or any other for-profit or not-for-profit legal entity.
(d) "Trade secret" means information, including but not limited to, technical or non-technical data, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, drawing, process, financial data, or list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, that:
(1) is sufficiently secret to derive economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and
(2) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy or confidentiality.
(from Ch. 140, par. 353)
Sec. 3.
(a) Actual or threatened misappropriation may be enjoined.
Upon application to the court, an injunction may be terminated when the trade secret has ceased to exist, provided that the injunction may be continued for an additional reasonable period of time in appropriate circumstances for reasons including, but not limited to an elimination of the commercial advantage that otherwise would be derived from the misappropriation, deterrence of willful and malicious misappropriation, or where the trade secret ceases to exist due to the fault of the enjoined party or others by improper means.
(b) If the court determines that it would be unreasonable to prohibit future use due to an overriding public interest, an injunction may condition future use upon payment of a reasonable royalty for no longer than the period of time the use could have been prohibited.
(c) In appropriate circumstances, affirmative acts to protect a trade secret may be compelled by a court order.
(from Ch. 140, par. 354)
Sec. 4.
(a) In addition to the relief provided for by Section 3, a person is entitled to recover damages for misappropriation. Damages can include both the actual loss caused by misappropriation and the unjust enrichment caused by misappropriation that is not taken into account in computing actual loss. If neither damages nor unjust enrichment caused by the misappropriation are proved by a preponderance of the evidence, the court may award damages caused by misappropriation measured in terms of a reasonable royalty for a misappropriator's unauthorized disclosure or use of a trade secret.
(b) If willful and malicious misappropriation exists, the court may award exemplary damages in an amount not exceeding twice any award made under subsection (a).
(from Ch. 140, par. 355)
Sec. 5.
If (i) a claim of misappropriation is made in bad faith, (ii) a motion to terminate an injunction is made or resisted in bad faith, or (iii) willful and malicious misappropriation exists, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party.
(from Ch. 140, par. 356)
Sec. 6.
In an action under this Act, a court shall preserve the secrecy of an alleged trade secret by reasonable means, which may include granting protective orders in connection with discovery proceedings, holding in camera hearings, sealing the records of the action, and ordering any person involved in the litigation not to disclose an alleged trade secret without prior court approval.
(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)
(from Ch. 140, par. 357)
Sec. 7.
An action for misappropriation must be brought within 5 years after the misappropriation is discovered or by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been discovered. For the purposes of this Act, a continuing misappropriation constitutes a single claim.
(from Ch. 140, par. 358)
Sec. 8.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act is intended to displace conflicting tort, restitutionary, unfair competition, and other laws of this State providing civil remedies for misappropriation of a trade secret.
(b) This Act does not affect:
(1) contractual remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret, provided however, that a contractual or other duty to maintain secrecy or limit use of a trade secret shall not be deemed to be void or unenforceable solely for lack of durational or geographical limitation on the duty;
(2) other civil remedies that are not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret;
(3) criminal remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; or
(4) the definition of a trade secret contained in any other Act of this State.
(from Ch. 140, par. 359)
Sec. 9.
This Act takes effect on January 1, 1988, and does not apply to misappropriation occurring prior to its effective date.


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We went hunting for some cars at UNITED Festival, featuring 250+ cars in the show n shine, along with an exhaust sound off contest and a project car reveal. With All Makes, All Models, All Styles United in Passion, what better place to find the Cars of Bendix?
1. Jess 2011 WRX Hatch - 00DROP
Jess modifications on her 2011 WRX have come thick and fast seeing as she only purchased the (basically stock) car less than a year ago. Since then the car has undergone some drastic changes in the lower end with the flagship of AirLift Performances Airbag kits the 3P and a custom boot setup, HardRace lower control arms and ZSS upper control arms that tuck the 18x10 Work Emotion T7R 2P wheels coated in Works own Asterism Black; a clear coat with color shifting properties.
There is a comprehensive list of exterior and interior mods as well including a Varis Adjustable spoiler, Carbon Fibre bonnet that has been painted to match the car, blacked out headlights with Hex halos, Takata Race Harnesses, Alpine & Kicker stereo upgrades and custom reupholstered seats with some WRC touches.
Jess has also started with some engine modifications. An Invidia Q300 Turboback exhaust, Process West Verticooler, intake and inlet pipe, coupled with a MSR (Michael South Engineering) Tune have her making 217 kW, and that number is soon to go up with some more goodies and tuning in the near future.
2. Daniels Black Dog Institute VF Commodore
Daniels 2015 Holden VF Commodore SS is definitely striking with its livery being the first thing you see. The car was built by Daniel to promote mental health through the car scene under the Black Dog Institute after he lost several friends to suicide.
At the rear youll notice the OTR custom exhaust has been modified to dual side outlets. This along with the Pacemaker manifold and cool-drive twin fan cold air booster help the LS2 L77 engine push out 300 kW.
The exterior is finished off nicely with genuine V8 supercar rear wing & front bar and a set of 18x10 Koya Racing SF01s.
3. Andrews VH Holden Commodore - MRVH
Andrews 1982 Holden VH Commodore is a gorgeous work of art and fitting of the name MRVH. The LS3 engine has a stroker kit to push it to 418ci and it is now making 465HP thanks to a custom stainless 3 exhaust. Also underneath the car youll find that its been converted to a T56 6 speed gearbox with K-Sport coilovers, sway bars and a Whiteline strut brace. The brake lines have all been braided to suit the 330mm slotted rotors all around to give Andrew some decent stopping power as well.
The Cherry Black paint makes the car stand out and help you appreciate the SS Group A body kit, SLE chrome trim & bumper extensions and the staggered 20 Walky wheels 8.5 in the front and 9.5 in the rear.
Theres been little expense spared inside the cabin either with custom seats, door & boot trim and roof liner, as well as an amazing in dash DVD system which flows through to the rear with screens inserted to the headrests of the front seats.
4. Lokis Nissan Zil80 - ICHI60
Lokis 1995 Nissan 180SX has gone through multiple generations of front end swap (and engines) before reaching its current form. The plates ICHI60 are a nod to when it was originally imported from Japan as a strawberry face Sil80 (S15 front end). It now sports what she has coined the Zil80 front end; a tribute to three of her favorite cars; 180SX, S14A and FairladyZ.
The body modifications are all tastefully done with Z32 headlights, S14A Kouki bonnet, TRA-Kyoto Rocket Bunny V2 flares & sideskirts, D1GP Louvers, a 326 Power Wing, Origin Labo Raceline rear bar & Custom XXX-XXX LED taillights. The combination of the Black/Gold pearl paint and Bronze/Black Work Meister M1s really set it off.
Under that Kouki bonnet sits a 1JZ-GTE making 450HP thanks to a shopping list of engine mods as well including a single highmount GT35 Turbo, MDSfab steampipe manifold and HKS cam gears.
5. Topz 90s BMW E36 - 1 90THE
Topz 1998 BMW 318is E36 Coupe is a great example of late 90s styling. The M44B19 Engine is only making 103 kW, but what more do you need when cruising around the city in such style?
The addition of an M body kit, LTW wing and CCLF Angel eye headlights are only slightly upstaged by the great ride height provided by the BC BR Coilovers and low production lightweight AC Schnitzer Type II Wheels.
6. Joshs VW Golf MK5 GTI - 0GENTZ
Joshs 2005 VW Golf MkV GTI has a nicely understated look to it, which could be why its licensed 0GENTZ. The AirBFT airbag suspension kit combined with a catalogue of SuperPro parts sit the car on the ground, tucking the 18x9.5 XT-206R Cosmis Racing Wheels under the fender flares.
The 2.0L inline 4 turbo engine is making 180 kW thanks to a stage 2 ECU & DSG tune from ETUNERS, R8 Coil Packs, 3 turbo back exhaust and modified fuel pump.
7. Axes Mazda RX7 FD - HULK20B
Axe unveiled his 2000 Mazda RX7 FD at Hot Import Nights 2018, taking out Hottest Overall car for the show. He picked up Best Engine Bay and Best Body and Paint awards at UNITED Festival, so lets take a look at what makes HLK20B such a stand out car.
In the engine bay, the 13B has been replaced with a 20B 3 Rotor Bridgeport engine which has been dowelled & balanced and a big Comp Turbo CT6X Billet Wheel turbo hanging off the side, 2400cc injectors, custom fuel rails and 3 x Walbro 460 fuel pumps running through a Microtech LT-16C ECU to make a tidy 1000 RW HP.
Stopping power comes via some big Brembo GT brakes; 6 pot in the front and 4 pot in the rear. The car rolls on 20 SSR Professor SP1s, which have been custom anodized in shadow chrome, and then sacked with some custom air bagged BC coilovers and controlled with an Accuair E-Level VU4 system.
The interior houses a massive sound system with 6.5 front & 6x9 rear speakers from JL Audio and a pair of 10 subs tucked in the boot. The dash, gauges, seats, trim and panels have all been customized or replaced with carbon variants.
The car has been wide bodied with a Rocket Bunny V2 Aero kit, Re-Amemiya carbon fibre bonnet, R-Magic headlights & Car Shop Glow LED taillights and carbon fibre duck tail spoiler. The final touch to the car is a flow coated paint in Kawasaki Lime Green, giving it a serious Hulk look to it.
8. Mikes WRX Endgame STI
Mikes 2016 Subaru WRX STI has been modified with almost every carbon option available care of the Varis Arising II Ultimate bodykit and an APF Performance GT300 carbon wing. The orange highlights around the car set it off, especially on the rear diffuser. The car sits on a set of 18x9.5 Work Meister S1 3Ps which tuck under the guards thanks to an Airlift Performance 3P kit. Mike custom made the rear boot liner himself out of real wood and a super gloss finish.
The EJ257 engine is currently making 230 kW thanks to a Stage 1+ Cobb tune, but Mike is planning on upping those numbers now that he is (mostly) happy with the aesthetics of the car.
To find your nearest Bendix stockist, click HERE.
For the latest Bendix news and updates, visit our Facebook page


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Tipping is a tricky issue in China. It's officially forbidden by the government, and locals simply don't do it. In general, follow their lead without qualms. Nevertheless, the practice is beginning to catch on, especially among tour guides, who often expect Y10 a day. Official CTS representatives aren't allowed to accept tips, but you can give them candy, T-shirts, and other small gifts. You don't need to tip in restaurants or in taxis.
In Hong Kong, hotels and major restaurants usually add a 10% service charge; this money rarely goes to waiters and waitresses. Add on up to 10% more for good service. Tipping restroom attendants is common, but it is generally not the custom to leave an additional tip in taxis and hair salons.


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This dynamic and interactive open group meets every week to explore and understand spiritual strengths and how they can facilitate personal growth and understanding.
Each week, a facilitator brings a topic ready for discussion and conversation in a friendly, supportive environment that helps you to develop a better understanding of the self and to build inner strength.
Every Wednesday, 2.00 - 3.00pm
All Women's Empowerment Group meetings are provided free of charge.
There are currently no planned dates.


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- Home
- Departments
- Public Health
- Communicable Diseases
- West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus(WNV) is a mosquito- borne infection that can cause serious disease. WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall.
What can I do to Prevent WNV?
The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent
mosquito bites.
- Avoid the outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Dress with long sleeves and pants and cover as much skin as possible to reduce areas for mosquitoes to bite.
- Use mosquito repellent that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or paramenthane-diol and always follow product label instructions.
- Eliminate standing water which serves as mosquito breeding areas:
- Dispose of used tires, tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or other water holding containers.
- Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are kept outdoors.
- Turn over wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
- Change the water in bird baths twice weekly. - Repair window and doors screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.
- Serious Symptoms in a Few People.
- Milder Symptoms in Some People.
- No Symptoms in Most People.
How Does West Nile Virus Spread?
- Infected Mosquitoes.
- Transfusions, Transplants, and Mother-to-Child.
transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and during pregnancy from mother to baby.
- Not through touching.
How Soon Do Infected People Get Sick?
People typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are bitten by the infected mosquito.
How Is WNV Infection Treated?
There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. In cases with milder symptoms, people experience symptoms such as fever and aches that pass on their own, although illness may last weeks to months. In more severe cases, people usually need to go to the hospital where they can receive supportive treatment including intravenous fluids, help with breathing, and nursing care.
What Should I Do if I Think I Have WNV?
Milder WNV illness improves on its own, and people do not need to seek medical attention for this infection though they may choose to do so. If you develop symptoms of severe WNV illness, such as unusually severe headaches or confusion, seek medical attention immediately. Severe WNV illness usually requires hospitalization. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are encouraged to talk to their doctor if they develop symptoms that could be WNV
What Else Should I Know?
West Nile virus infects birds. In nature, West Nile virus cycles between mosquitoes and birds. Some infected birds can develop high levels of the virus in their bloodstream and mosquitoes can become infected by biting these infected birds. Some, but not all infected birds get sick and die of disease. If you find a dead bird: Don't handle the body with your bare hands. Schuyler County Health Department is currently not taking dead birds.
West Nile Virus Surveillance Summary for Schuyler County
*NY State DOH stopped reporting dead and live birds in 2009
NY State Surveillance Summaries
CDC National Surveillance Summaries
For more information on West Nile Virus, visit
CDC's West Nile Website
NY State Department of Health- West Nile Page


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The Fourth of July is tomorrow and we couldn't be more excited. The Fourth is one of our family's favorite holidays! We love to get together with family and friends and celebrate and it usually involves a BBQ and some fireworks (either our own or a local firework show). The weather is usually hot so it is nice to be able to cool off from all the fun festivities with something sweet and icy cool.
This year I will be bringing these super simple and easy Fourth of July Rocket Pops to share with the family. I created a simple popsicle tag to go on the popsicle sticks to add some extra flair. I simply printed them out and then cut them out with a paper punch. Then tape or tie them onto the popsicle sticks.
I am sharing the free Fourth of July Printables for these popsicles with you so that you can hurry and make some for your Fourth of July Party too.
To download a copy of the Fourth of July Printables click on the link below and then select Previous Downloads:
*If you are not a fan of The Idea Room on Facebook, you will need to click like first and become a fan. After you become a fan you will need to click on "Get your free gift" on the Idea Room FB page and then click on "Idea Room Downloads".
Hope you have a great Holiday Celebration!
Would you like more Recipes, DIY, Printables and Organization Ideas?
Subscribing to the newsletter will enable us to periodically send you creative content exclusively for Idea Room subscribers.
*View our Privacy Policy here.


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Molson Coors Canada, the business arm of Molson Coors Brewing Co., says it has entered into a joint venture to develop non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages.
Recreational marijuana is set to become legal in Canada on Oct.17, but edible products infused with pot will remain illegal until specific government regulations are rolled out in 2019 at the earliest.
The brewer says the venture with The Hydropothecary Corporation (HEXO) will be a standalone start-up with its own board and management team, with Molson Coors Canada having a 57.5 per cent interest and HEXO holding the balance.
The joint venture is subject to various approvals conditions and is scheduled to close before Sept. 30.
HEXO, based in Gatineau, Que., currently has more than 300,000 square feet of production capacity with an expansion more than three times that size to be completed by the end of the year.
"While we remain a beer business at our core, we are excited to create a separate new venture with a trusted partner that will be a market leader in offering Canadian consumers new experiences with quality, reliable and consistent non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages," said Molson Coors Canada president and CEO Frederic Landtmeters.
"Molson Coors Canada has a unique opportunity to participate in this exciting and rapidly expanding consumer segment," he said.
"We are excited about this partnership with Molson Coors Canada … as we embark on the journey of building a brand new market," added HEXO CEO and co-founder Sebastien St-Louis.
The Canadian Press


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Complete coverage on
Road to Rio
Five cities fighting for climate survival
Flash floods, extreme heat, rising sea-levels and buckling infrastructure - the list of catastrophes caused by climate change reads like the strap line of a dystopian sci-fi novel. But these are all present dangers detailed in the latest
C40 Cities
Click here
to see how five cities from five continents are trying to protect their booming populations and complex economies from climate disaster.
Latest News
Clamping down on Mexico's polluters
From dump to pump in Mexico City
Mexico City's 'pedal power'
Mexico City's 'pedal power'
From dump to pump
Clamping down on Mexico's polluters
LA's green city challenge
Going green on the big screen
Carbon free university
Turning trash to treasure
California's carbon friendly wine
Hong Kong's Green City Challenge
China's carbon positive city
Sewing the seeds of a low carbon future
A greener playtime for Chinese toys
Micro algae eats carbon emissions
Delhi's green city challenge
A greener conversation
Solar energy for colorful silks
Exploring Mughal architecture
Picking a greener tea
Mumbai's recycling slum
Abu Dhabi's 'Green Police'
The carbon footprint of water
Nuclear energy in the UAE
'Green Sheikh' looks to the future
Rio+20 'Earth Summit'
Moldy matters
How wasted food is destroying the environment
'World's greenest buildings' get seal of approval
From meatpacking plant to 'vertical farm'
Mary Robinson on Rio+20
Was Rio+20 a failure of political leadership?
Watch your Rio+20 tweets grow
Smog-eating tiles gobble up air pollution
About the show
Each month, the 30-minute show explores the cities making strides in reducing their carbon footprint, ahead of the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June. Along the way, a team of experts will examine the planning, environmental and sustainability issues facing today's urban centers, as well as the green initiatives being developed to tackle them. See the
full Road to Rio archive.
Read more about CNN's special reports policy.
Singapore's urban forest
'Supertrees' bloom at 205-acre urban oasis
Luxury eco-hotels around the globe
Rooftop forest proposed in Beirut
Watch online
Rio+20: Managing our planet's resources
Rio+20: Progress in the private sector
Rio+20: Empowering women
This month,
Road to Rio heads to Mexico
Watch the show at the following times:
Wednesday, June 20: 0930, 1630,
Saturday, June 23: 0430, 1830,
Sunday, June 24: 1130
(all times GMT)
The journey finishes at Rio+20 conference, where CNN's Philippe Cousteau hosts a discussion to examine the environmental problems leaders are trying to solve for the future. The show's finale will air from 29 June
The relentless spread of humanity
Tracing man's impact on earth
The eco artists turning trash into treasure
Inside America's largest landfill site
More stories
The secret life of drinking water
London's futuristic farm shop
The greenest buildings of 2011
'Women are best climate change defense'
Cities given 'nudge' in right direction
The UAE's 'Green Sheikh'
Could Eiffel Tower become world's largest tree?
Follow Road to Rio
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Nord pianos are popping up all over the place these days and Clavia seem to have struck upon a good balance of sounds, features and playability that appeals to live performers and studio bods alike. Above all, many dig Clavia's no-nonsense or little menu diving approach.
The Nord Piano is weighty and solid, yet it's just light enough to be carried by one person out of the box or in a soft case, or by two people in a hard case.
All the controls are housed centrally and are easily accessible with either hand and the positioning of the control panel also leaves plenty of space either side on which to sit smaller keyboards, or a laptop.
Now onto the 88-note, fully-weighted keybed; we found this to be very playable indeed. It's not too heavy, nor does it suffer from any of the sponginess that we've found in several other weighted stage piano actions recently.
Fast note repeats are easy, while it's great to play for long periods of time without being fatiguing on the hands or wrists. Also, though it's never ideal playing Clavinet sounds from a weighted keyboard, the keybed is pretty playable for this duty.
Overall build quality is first class, with an all-metal case construction and wooden end cheeks, while the switchgear and dials instil confidence, giving the feel of a premium instrument.
The Nord Piano also ships with a quality three-pedal unit, offering sustain, a soft pedal and sostenuto, which allows one note to remain sustained while the others play as normal around it (much like many grand pianos). This further enhances the Nords authentic piano-like feel.
Feature filled
Feature-wise it's pretty familiar territory for those that have used the Nord Electro or Stage series products. The sound selection area is simply laid out around an informative screen and thankfully you'll seldom have to look at it while performing, just for deeper utility functions and MIDI setups etc.
There are a total of 120 program slots in 24 banks, housed in 500MB of RAM, while the five 'live' program locations continually scan and store all panel settings for quick recall.
As a performer's instrument, the Nord is certainly one of the best and the interface never gets in the way, though we would have preferred it if Nord had added a pitch bend and mod stick for those that would like to use the Nord Piano as a controller.
Other useful features include a +/- six semitone transpose button, and a keyboard touch setting button (that gives you four velocity curves to suit different styles).
Piano perfect
Sound-shaping features include two effect busses, a three-band EQ unit with sweepable mid-range, an amp and compressor section and a reverb unit.
The quality of the effects is first class throughout, with an authentic depth to the wah's, phasers, reverb, flangers and auto-panning, while the amp sims have an airy crunch that really adds to the already authentic and musical samples onboard.
These are the same effects that are included in the flagship Nord Stage EX and thus, there's little to fault. Our only criticisms are the lack of a depth or amount dial for the effects (though linking the Phase1/Phase2 buttons or the Pan1/Pan2 buttons gives alternative effect depth variation) but the lack of the Nord Stage's superb analogue-style delay is sorely missed, particularly for treating the Rhodes and Clav samples.
These small issues aside, there is little to criticise. The V5 samples are what we consider to be the most authentic, playable and musical currently available and few other boards come close to the Nord Piano in terms of playability and ease of use.
Somehow the Nord Piano almost tricks you into thinking you're playing a real piano or electric piano and the sound is fantastic. In fact, in some recent recordings this reviewer chose the Nord over a Yamaha U1 upright and that says a lot about its authenticity. The Steinway, Yamaha and the new upright samples record and play brilliantly.
Subtle sound
Not only that, but the Rhodes and Wurli Electric Pianos are beautifully sampled too (as are the Clavs, CP80 and Harpsichords) and again we feel these are perhaps the closest you can get to the real thing without using a laptop and samples.
All the highs, bark and growl are there and the new Rhodes Custom Tines and Sparkle-Top samples are stunning (and the older ones are still up there too) the velocity layers are pretty much inaudible and again, the way the samples react under the fingers is spot on.
Add to this the fact that Clavia constantly update their libraries for their users for free and the all round package becomes pretty hard to beat.
To conclude, if the subtleties and nuances of acoustic piano are a huge part of your sound on stage and in the studio, you'll find the Nord Piano a dream solution. For the most authentic-sounding and feeling stage piano currently available, you need look no further.
The Nord Piano should be firmly at the top of your list. With Clavia's great customer support and large online library of sounds, it's an investment that should reward piano-centric players for many years to come.
Now listen to our audio demos to hear a few examples of the Nord Piano's sounds:
Baumgardt upright
Clav CA
CP80 + room reverb
Steinway D
Yamaha C7
Yamaha C7 + hall reverb


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- Home
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- Parks & Recreation
- Pools & Swimming
- Pool Policies
Pool Policies
Adult Supervision
Parents or responsible adults must accompany children to the pool until the child is nine (9) years of age. Lifeguards reserve the right to evaluate the child's swimming ability when using the deep end and slides. Parents or responsible adults must supervise and be vigilant of their children at all times.Swim Test & Slide Requirements
Swim Test
Lifeguards may ask your child to perform the Deep End test at any time. We have many lifeguards on staff; by allowing the lifeguards to test your child, it will help to reassure them of your child's swimming ability.
Swim Test: To qualify to use the deep end, diving board, orange slide*, or drop slide*, you must be able to swim 25 yards using the front crawl without stopping, doggie paddling, or swimming on the back. Lifeguards reserve the right to test any child when deemed necessary.
We have developed this policy to provide a safe environment for you and your family. For more details or any questions, please speak to the manager/guard on duty.
Slide Requirements
- Diving boards, Drop Slides*: Must pass deep end swim test (11' deep)
- Purple Slide*: Must be 48" or taller (catch pool is 3' 6" deep)
- Orange Slide*: Must be 48" or taller AND pass the deep end swim test (catch pool is 8' deep)
- Yellow Slide*: Must be under 48" of height
*At the Aquatic Center
In an effort to ensure the safety and cleanliness of our swimming pool environment, anyone that requires the use of a diaper must wear an appropriate swimming diaper. There are swim diapers in some sizes available at the front desk.Flotation Devices & Toys
Patrons may bring their own toys to enjoy at the pool. Flotation devices such as rafts may be used if they are small enough to hold only one person. The guards on duty reserve the right to clear the pool of all flotation devices when it inhibits their view and remove toys for the safety of other patrons. Flotation devices are allowed in the shallow end and four-foot to five-foot area. Please note that hard balls and squirt guns are not allowed.Lockers
Daily use of lockers is available for $0.25. We also have lockers available for rent. Lockers can be rented at the Indoor Pool on a long-term basis for $7.50 for three months, $15 for six months, or $30 for one year. We recommend the use of locked lockers to prevent theft or loss of personal belongings.No Glass
As part of our no glass policy for the pool and surrounding deck area, we do not allow cell phones, iPads/tablets, GoPro/action cameras, glass diving masks, or other items with glass in the water. This includes items inside a protective case.No Refunds
We are unable to offer any cash/credit card refunds once you have paid to enter the facility.No Shoes on Deck
Please help us keep the deck and bleachers clean by removing your street shoes before entering the pool area.Partnership
We are proud to operate the Coralville Indoor Pool in partnership with the Iowa City Community School District. It is a shared use pool and we are host to physical education classes, adapted PE classes, and District swim teams. Please pick up a calendar at the front desk for the community open and lap swim times.More Information
For more information on these or any other rules, contact Coralville Parks and Recreation at 319.248.1750.Indoor Pool | Outdoor Pool


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Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SINGAPORE (AP) - The United States and 11 other nations negotiating a free trade zone stretching from Chile to Japan failed to reach a final agreement at talks in Singapore, but indicated they were closing in on a landmark deal.
The U.S.-led agreement is a major part of President Barack Obama's foreign policy shift toward Asia but has been snagged by disagreements between countries on market access, especially for agricultural products, environmental protections and intellectual property.
Washington had said it hoped the trade agreement would be completed by the end of the year.
After four days of meetings in Singapore, ministers issued a statement Tuesday saying that "substantial progress" had been made on finalizing the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It said they had identified "potential landing zones" for most of the outstanding issues and would meet again next month.
Deborah Elms, a professor at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, said the tone of the statement suggested negotiators have a "pretty clear understanding" of what a final agreement would look like.
Elms, who follows the negotiations, said she expected a deal to be finalized in March. Others have predicted similar.
"It's easy to get a quick agreement: you just drop the level of ambition. There was no temptation to do that," U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman told reporters in a conference call after the talks. He said the 12 countries are focused on reaching a "high-standard" agreement.
Negotiators are aiming to reduce tariffs on goods and services to close to zero. They are also trying to ensure that foreign companies operating in those markets have a level playing field with state-owned ones, and that their products are not counterfeited.
The block includes developing countries with large state-owned industries such as Vietnam and Malaysia as well as rich nations including the United States and Japan.
The agreement would encompass around one-third of world trade and 800 million people. Proponents say it should lead to greater economic growth.
Any deal will have to be ratified by the U.S. Congress, where Democratic lawmakers in particular are calling for tough provisions on environmental and labor standards and against currency manipulation. To simplify ratification, the Obama administration wants Congress first to pass legislation that gives it authority to negotiate trade deals that Congress can accept or reject but cannot change.
Non-governmental organizations have also been seeking to influence the agreement to get a better deal for the poor.
They fear that the cost of medicines may rise in countries such as Vietnam because U.S. pharmaceutical companies are pressing for long periods of patent protection, slowing the release of generic versions of drugs.
The talks in Singapore followed a World Trade Organization summit in Bali last week at which the organization's 159 member economies agreed to cut customs red tape. It was the first WTO deal since the global trade body was formed in 1995.
The countries negotiating the TPP are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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BERLIN – A Jewish group in the German city of Duesseldorf is urging a boycott of an upcoming concert by former Pink Floyd band member Roger Waters for using an inflatable pig featuring a Star of David during his show.
The director of the Jewish Community in Duesseldorf, Michael Szentei-Heise, said in a statement Thursday that Waters was an "intellectual arsonist" whose stage act used "anti-Semitic and National Socialist" imagery.
Waters, who couldn't immediately be reached for comment, is due to perform his show "The Wall" in Duesseldorf on Sept. 6.
The English musician has previously rebuffed critics of the show, which has been performed about 200 times in the last three years, by saying it isn't intended to be anti-Semitic.
The inflatable pig also features other religious, political and corporate symbols.


text:
Pro-EU Ukrainians protest
A convoy of hundreds of Russian troops headed toward the capital of Ukraine's Crimea region on Sunday, a day after Russia's forces took over the strategic Black Sea peninsula without firing a shot.
The new government in Kiev has been powerless to react. Ukraine's parliament was meeting Sunday in a closed session.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has defied calls from the West to pull back his troops, insisting that Russia has a right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population in Crimea and elsewhere in Ukraine. (AP)
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Storm's End
Storm's End | |
Legendary castle, Regional capital | |
Storm's End by Logan Feliciano © Fantasy Flight Games | |
Government |
House Durrandon (formerly) House Baratheon, Feudal lord |
Ruler |
Lord Renly Baratheon (AGoT) King Stannis Baratheon (ADwD) |
Religion |
Faith of the Seven Faith of R'hllor |
Founded | Age of Heroes |
Notable places | Round Hall |
Storm's End is the seat of House Baratheon, the Lords Paramount of the Stormlands. The castle is located at Durran's Point on the northern coast of Shipbreaker Bay,[1] south of Bronzegate and northeast of Griffin's Roost. The kingsroad runs north from Storm's End through the stormlands to King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms.[2]
One of the strongest castles in the realm, Storm's End was once the ancestral seat of the Storm Kings of House Durrandon extending back many thousands of years. The castle is said to be protected by spells woven into its very walls that prevent magic from affecting it or passing through it. Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, is served by Maester Jurne.[3]
Storm's End is surrounded by a massive outer curtain wall, one hundred feet high and forty feet thick on its thinnest side and nearly eighty feet thick on its seaward side. It is composed of a double course of pale grey stone with an inner core of sand and rubble. The wall is smooth and curving, the stones so well placed and so perfectly fit together that the wind can find no purchase. On the seaward side, there is a one hundred fifty foot drop below the wall into the sea.[4] There is no safe anchorage by the castle.[5] The curtain wall protects the castle's kitchens, stables, and yard.[4]
Storm's End has only one tower,[6] a colossal drum tower crowned with formidable battlements, making it look like a huge, spiked fist thrusting towards the sky from afar.[4] The tower is so large that it comfortably contains the granary, barracks, armory, feast hall, and lord's chambers all at once.[4] The main hall of the castle is called the Round Hall.[7] The maester's cell and the rookery are located at the top of the tower,[6] which is windowless on the side facing the sea.[4] It is said that there are spells woven into the stonework of Storm's End.[8]
The seaward side of the castle stands upon Durran's Point, a high white cliff overlooking the sea. There is a watery passage through a cavern that leads beneath the castle, protected by a portcullis, bars, and murder holes.[8]
The godswood of Storm's End has a weirwood heart tree carved with a solemn face.[9]
Despite a good wind off Shipbreaker Bay, the weather is hot at Storm's End in summertime.[10] There are fields and stony ridges in the vicinity.[4]
The mighty fortress called Storm's End has stood for centuries, facing the terrible weather of Shipbreaker Bay with little wear to show for it. Legend claims that it was built by Durran Godsgrief, the first Storm King during the Dawn Age, who declared a war against the sea god and the goddess of the wind after they killed his family and guests, ruining his wedding to their daughter, Elenei. It was said Durran raised six castles, each larger and more formidable than the last, but all were destroyed by storms. The massive seventh castle, Storm's End, is also called Durran's Defiance[11] because it was able to endure the storms.[5] Some believe this was because the children of the forest took a hand in its construction, using their magics in raising the castle walls which allow it to resist the storms. Others believe that a young boy who grew up to be Bran the Builder advised Durran on its construction.[4]
The maesters serving at Storm's End have recorded fierce storms nearly every year especially in autumn. The storms of 166 AC and 221 AC were particularly powerful.[5]
House Durrandon
The Storm Kings, Durran's descendants from House Durrandon, used Storm's End as their seat as the First Men consolidated control over the stormlands.[12] In its long history the formidable fortress has never fallen to siege or storm.[5]
During the coming of the Andals, the invaders are said to have abandoned attempts to capture Storm's End from the First Men Storm Kings after seven failed sieges and assaults. Instead, the Durrandons and Andals eventually came together through marriage.[13] Archmaester Vyron speculates in his Triumphs and Defeats that the final form of the castle being the seventh shows a clear Andal influence and suggests the possibility that the final form was achieved in Andal times. The great tower and curtain wall appear beyond the capability of the ancient First Men, at least, as they often built ringforts which are now left in ruins.[5]
Gyles III Gardener, King of the Reach, conquered much of the stormlands but failed to capture Storm's End after a siege of two years.[14]
During Aegon's Conquest, the last Storm King, Argilac the Arrogant, abandoned his impressive defenses to meet Orys Baratheon in open battle and suffered accordingly in the Last Storm. Taking Argilac's daughter, Argella, as his bride, Orys became Aegon's Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and House Baratheon replaced the Durrandons as lords of Storm's End.[15]
House Baratheon
Storm's End hosted Aegon I Targaryen several times during the king's royal progresses.[16] Aenys I Targaryen visited the castle after becoming king.[17]
Jaehaerys I Targaryen was proclaimed king by Lord Rogar Baratheon at Storm's End in 48 AC, hastening the downfall of Maegor I Targaryen.[17] In the same year a steward at Storm's End and his barren wife fostered the baseborn son of Coryanne Wylde.[18] The Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon died giving birth to Jocelyn Baratheon at Storm's End in 54 AC.[19]
Near the start of the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Aemond Targaryen enjoyed feasts, hunting, and jousting at Storm's End when he visited Lord Borros Baratheon as an envoy of King Aegon II Targaryen. Borros hosted Aemon and Prince Lucerys Velaryon, an envoy of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, in the Round Hall. Lucerys and his dragon, Arrax, were slain by Aemond and Vhagar outside Storm's End when Lucerys attempted to depart.[7] Prince Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra's husband, suggested that Storm's End be granted to the lowborn Ser Ulf White, an idea which shocked Lord Corlys Velaryon.[20] Ser Willis Fell escorted Princess Helaena Targaryen to Storm's End after the fall of King's Landing.[21] Lord Olyver Baratheon was born at Storm's End seven days after his father Borros was killed in the Battle of the Kingsroad.[21]
King Baelor I Targaryen recuperated at Storm's End for half a year after he returned from Dorne.[22]
Princess Rhaelle Targaryen served at Storm's End as Lord Lyonel Baratheon's cupbearer and companion to his lady wife,[23] and she wed Lyonel's heir, Lord Ormund Baratheon.[24]
The Windproud of Lord Steffon Baratheon sank in Shipbreaker Bay within sight of Storm's End. The castellan at that time was Ser Harbert, while the castle's maester was Cressen.[25]
There was a tourney at Storm's End prior to Robert's Rebellion. During the rebellion, Lord Robert Baratheon feasted and hunted with Lords Cafferen and Grandison at Storm's End after defeating them at Summerhall; Robert hung the banners of the defeated in his hall as trophies.[26] Storm's End was then besieged for near a year by the host of Lord Mace Tyrell, who commanded the landward forces, whilst Lord Paxter Redwyne's fleet of the Arbor kept the castle cut off by sea. However, Stannis Baratheon, Robert's brother in command of the defense, refused to yield and his men were reduced to eating rats. The armorer Donal Noye lost an arm during the siege.[27] A smuggler named Davos ran the blockade and resupplied the castle, allowing the garrison to outlast the siege of Storm's End.[25]
After Lord Robert Baratheon became king, he gave the castle to his youngest brother, Renly, and granted Stannis the much poorer Dragonstone, which led to many years of bitterness on Stannis's part. Ser Loras Tyrell squired at Storm's End, where he became acquainted with Renly.[28] When Renly is away at court in King's Landing fulfilling his duties as Robert's master of laws, Storm's End is held by its castellan, Ser Cortnay Penrose. Robert's bastard, Edric Storm, is fostered by Cortnay at the castle.[29]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, flees King's Landing with Ser Loras Tyrell after the death of his brother, King Robert I Baratheon. Lord Varys, the master of whisperers, thinks Renly is riding to Storm's End or Highgarden in the Reach.[30] Renly weds Margaery Tyrell at Highgarden and is proclaimed Lord of the Seven Kingdoms by Lord Mace Tyrell. Storm's End calls the banners for Renly.[31]
A Clash of Kings
During the War of the Five Kings, the many castles sworn to Storm's End help Renly field a sizable force to support his claim on the Iron Throne. His elder brother, Stannis, lays siege to Storm's End instead of attacking King's Landing. Stannis's men cut down a nearby grove of trees for siege weapons, and it is where the rival kings hold an unsuccessful parley.[4] The night before the brothers are to battle, Catelyn Stark prays at the sept of a village located in sparse woodland near the castle. Despite the presence of his Rainbow Guard, Renly is assassinated in his camp by a shadow that night.[32]
Following Renly's death, the castellan Ser Cortnay Penrose refuses to yield in a parley beneath Storm's End's walls, believing that Robert's bastard, Edric Storm, fostered within the castle, would be harmed.[8] The former smuggler Davos Seaworth sails Melisandre to the cavern beneath the walls so that the spells of the castle do not ward out her magic, and she births a shadow[8] that throws Cortnay from the tower, an apparent suicide.[33]
Soon after Cortnay's death, his lieutenant, Lord Elwood Meadows, names himself castellan and surrenders the castle to Stannis.[34] Melisandre has Stannis burn the godswood as an offering to the Lord of the Light.[35][36]
A Storm of Swords
Following the Battle of the Blackwater, Stannis's Hand of the King, Lord Alester Florent, negotiates with the Iron Throne, suggesting that Stannis relinquish his royal claim and remain Lord of Dragonstone and Storm's End. Stannis has Alester imprisoned for treason.[37]
Ser Gilbert Farring serves Stannis as the castellan of Storm's End, with Elwood as his second-in-command and a garrison of two hundred[26] or three hundred.[38]
Loras admits to Ser Jaime Lannister that he buried Renly at a place known to them near Storm's End.[28]
A Feast for Crows
Princess Arianne Martell believes that Storm's End belongs to Tommen Baratheon by rights, but that the Iron Throne belongs to his elder sister, Myrcella Baratheon.[39]
In 300 AC, Mace and Lord Mathis Rowan bring half the Tyrell strength to besiege Storm's End.[40][41] Some of the Redwyne fleet blockade Shipbreaker Bay, preventing the castle from being resupplied.[42] Mace abandons the siege to return to King's Landing after the arrest of Margaery, Mace's daughter and Tommen's queen, by the Faith.[43] Mace leaves a token force with Lord Rowan to continue the siege but the castle continues to support Stannis's claim to the throne.[44] Its defenders include Gilbert, Elwood, and Stannis's uncle, Ser Lomas Estermont.[45]
A Dance with Dragons
The Golden Company plans to take Storm's End as a base of operation. Aegon Targaryen intends to lead the assault.[46]
The Winds of Winter
| Warning This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change. |
At Griffin's Roost Haldon Halfmaester informs Princess Arianne Martell that the Golden Company has taken Storm's End and that the Hand awaits her there. He tells her that Mace Tyrell's army is descending on the castle from King's Landing and that she will want to be safe inside the walls before the battle. Arianne decides to sail to Storm's End.[47]
The nightfires had burned low, and as the east began to lighten the immense mass of Storm's End emerged like a dream of stone while wisps of pale mist raced across the field, flying from the sun on wings of wind.[32]
—thoughts of Catelyn Stark
Stannis: I give you fair warning. If you force me to take my castle by storm, you may expect no mercy. I will hang you for traitors, every one of you.
Cortnay: As the gods will it. Bring on your storm, my lord—and recall, if you do, the name of this castle.[8]
I mean to take Storm's End. A nigh-impregnable stronghold, and Stannis Baratheon's last foothold in the south. Once taken, it will give us a secure fastness to which we may retreat at need, and winning it will prove our strength.[46]
Chapters that take place at Storm's End
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: Storm's End.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Map of the South
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Appendix.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: Storm's End.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fire & Blood, Death, Birth, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - A Son for a Son.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 42, Davos II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 5, Davos I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
- ↑ The Princess and the Queen.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: Andals in the Stormlands.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Andals in the Reach.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - Governance Under King Aegon I.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Stormlands: House Baratheon.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 67, Jaime VIII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 49, Eddard XIV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 69, Tyrion IX.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 33, Catelyn IV.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 44, Tyrion X.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 45, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 52, Sansa IV.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 25, Davos III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 54, Davos V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 32, Cersei VII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Mathis Rowan.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn.
- ↑ The Winds of Winter, Arianne II
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 42, Davos II, p 621.
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Strongholds of A Song of Ice and Fire. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of Strongholds of A Song of Ice and Fire. As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


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(Note, if you're easily offended by juvenile humor, this post and video might not be for you.)
The video's been going around since Friday, but it's too funny not to pass along just because it's a few days old. And we bet many folks missed it over the weekend.
While introducing her husband in New Hampshire, second lady Jill Biden got the audience laughing when she held her hands farrrrrr apart as she said, "I've seen Joe up close." Her inadvertently funny comments didn't end there.
The vice president, meanwhile, seemed to be loving it. Of course, for once he wasn't the one in the family getting in a bit of trouble at the mic.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Sam Farmer
Member since Dec 11, 2008
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You could also: - create an array or structure mapping the table names - have a drop down with the array number or key as a value - then when submitted if the submitted value is not in the array or structure you know you have a problem! cfdbinfo will also help with this process in the future.... read more »
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The usual explanation for photon's higher frequency in lower altitudes (higher gravity), when the photon is going downward towards a massive body, is that gravitational potential energy is converted into photon's energy which, by its turn, through $E=hf$ implies higher frequency. Because, since $c$ is constant, it doesn't make sense to turn that potential energy into kinetic energy.
That, I understand.
My question is, why is it affirmed that this implies that time runs slower in the lower altitude? I mean why is it such that this higher frequency is equivalent to slower running clocks?